Parishioners contemplate veracity of Shroud of Turin

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — More than 50 people gathered after liturgy at St. Joseph Parish March 18, for a multi-media presentation by David Onysko on “The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin – Where Science Meets Faith.”

Onysko’s presentation included a life-sized, photographic-negative image of the Shroud of Turin, which is a large, ancient burial linen that is imprinted with an image of a crucified man and alleged to be the burial shroud of Jesus.

He pointed out the evidence that can be obtained from the large linen: the AB blood type of the crucified man and the marks of a Roman-style crucifixion. As well, the man who was wrapped in the shroud had a beard and long hair, wore a cap of thorns, was flogged more than 200 times all over his body, had both eyes swollen shut, his nose broken, a spear wound in his chest, and wounds on his wrists, similar to the torture wounds of Jesus, as described in the Gospels. The crucified man’s face bore a calm and peaceful expression.

The cloth is 100 fibers in thickness — these fibers are finer than human hair — but the image is only on the top two layers of fibers. The image is thought to have been produced by intense light. When the linen is held up to light, only blood stains show through.

Some people have contested the claim that the Shroud of Turin is Jesus’ burial linen, pointing to carbon dating testing that dated the cloth to the 13th century.

However, Onysko explained that the shroud had been in a fire during the medieval period and samples were taken from the patches that were applied after the fire. Church authorities will not allow another sample to be taken for testing, he said.

The fire confirmed, however, that the image was not painted onto the linen. Fire would have melted the paint, Onysko said. As well, paint would have soaked through more than the top two fibers of the linen.

While it is not 100 percent certain that the Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth of Jesus, Onysko said, the weight of evidence suggests that it is. He said the shroud is for a 21st-century non-believer as the appearance of Jesus after his death was to the Apostle Thomas.

The original shroud is kept in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.
Parishioner Carrie Hotaling said Onysko’s presentation was “very thought-provoking. Having very little knowledge on the subject of the shroud myself, I came away with a better appreciation for the scientific aspect of it.”

The event was sponsored by the Ladies’ Auxiliary, which also provided a light lunch for participants.

Caption:
David Onysko gives a presentation on the Shroud of Turin at St. Joseph Parish after Divine Liturgy March 18. The event was sponsored by the Ladies’ Auxiliary. (Photo: Sherry Tytko)